Bringing this one back to life

[McGyver]

I was a little bored last winter, so I decided to pick up a broken car and get it back on the road. This thread is to document that I actually did the work that I'm claiming to have done, and to document that amount of work going into this car. Hopefully I'll be able to make a bit of cash while saving a car from getting parted out.

Ok, so here it is!

I found a lady on Craigslist that had this 1987 325i vert with a manual transmission that she wanted to sell. She said that she always wanted a white one and that one day her husband surprised her with a white '87 325i vert. So this car has just been sitting in the back for about 3 years. They took some parts off for the other car, but she put most of the stuff she removed into the trunk.

The car started out as shwartz, but has been resprayed some sort of metal flake silver. I haven't washed it yet, but the paint looks pretty good. There are a few small dents and scratches, but nothing serious.









The interior has been reupholstered close to the original leather color. They actually did a really good job of it! I just have to get the seats functioning correctly again.



It also has a crack-free dash!

[McGyver]

Since the car sat for 3 years, the first step was taking care of the timing belt, water pump, and valve adjustment.

Hood off, radiator out, beer getting drank, and timing belt exposed.


The timing belt wasn't that bad, but I'm glad it's getting changed for the next owner.


Valve cover off and it doesn't look bad! Nothing looks broken, just broken in.

[McGyver]

I forgot to take pictures of a lot of stuff, but here's a few more:

I pulled out the POS wheel bearing that was howling like a banshee


The old one was toast:


Also pulled off the old pads and rotors. They seem like they've got about 50 miles left in them, so like $40 shipped? Yeah?


New wheel bearing on. You can also see the BavAuto Sport springs from an e36m3 on the front. It lowered the car about 1-2 inches. Now it has much less body roll in corners, but is still really smooth and tall enough to DD without worrying about road conditions:

[McGyver]

blank

[francogt1]

how much did you pay that's the most important part about flipping cars

[McGyver]

More than I wanted, but not too much. It was about what you would expect to pay for a shell since the car wasn't running.

Also, I have no idea how to price this thing. But I guess I'll cross that road once I get it driving again.

[slammin.e28]

I know you're going to replace that stamped aux shaft sprocket.....

[McGyver]

I know you're going to replace that stamped aux shaft sprocket.....

What're you talking about?!? More touring hate?!?!?

[slammin.e28]

What're you talking about?!? More touring hate?!?!?

I bet you can fit more in that 'vert than in a touring....

#noroof #stackthingsfordaysssss

[dirty30]

Do as little as possible to it.
Clean it.
Put the highest price imaginable on it.
Post it for sale.
Don't make a thread about an E30 you are flipping on a site you plan to list it on.

[slammin.e28]

Protip: A STANCEWORKS sticker in the top, center of the windshield raises value by 50%.

[SlamedIAm]

Do as little as possible to it.
Clean it.
Put the highest price imaginable on it.
Post it for sale.
Don't make a thread about an E30 you are flipping on a site you plan to list it on.

This x infiniti.

My prediction is you're going to sink too much into it to turn a worthy profit and this thread is going to be used against you in the negotiation.

Hope that's not the case. Happy wrenching.

[Andy.B]

I know you're going to replace that stamped aux shaft sprocket.....

What're you talking about?!? More touring hate?!?!?

The idler gear for the timing belt appears to be a superseded stamped metal type. It should be replaced with a cast gear, since the stamped gear can collapse on itself, letting the timing belt slip.

The new update gear is cheap, and absolutely worth it.

[george graves]

Don't make a thread about an E30 you are flipping on a site you plan to list it on.

Word. who was that guy that bought a e30 with super low miles for $1000, and then tried to sell it for $14,000? We were all like..."yea, thanks but no thanks"

[N2MYE30]

When I flipped my MT2 cabrio, it was the build thread that sold it. I had it well documented of how I got it to when I sold it. I even made a photo album of all the pix I posted here.

I would suggest just going for OEM clean, clean, clean. Body looks straight but are you planning to do the top yourself? Looks like solid platform for this project and the next owner. GL. :up: